2019 Focus SAM
Today, Focus launches its new 170mm enduro bike. It’s called the SAM (just like the old one) and features 170mm travel front and rear. And if it looks a little familiar, it’s because the same looking design is used on the existing Focus SAM2 (Sam Squared) e-bike that we showed you last year.
Focus defines it as a “lifestyle/“all-mountain” bike rather than a pure enduro race bike, and has designed the geometry and linkage kinematics around fun rather than outright speed. The new bike uses the “FOLD” (Focus Optimised Linkage Design)system as found on the current SAM2 and JAM bikes. This linkage system comprises of a main linkage which connects to the shock, and is designed to be very stiff; and a secondary guide link which is engineered to have a small amount of flex to allow a more forgiving back end.
The linkage produces a ratio curve which initially increases to the sag point (at 55mm) before falling as it goes through the travel. This means that it gets progressively harder through the travel. Although some of the athletes are running coil shocks, it has been designed around (and apparently works best with) air.
Want some numbers? Here you go:
Small
Stack 600mm, Reach 420mm, Seat Tube 400mm.
Medium
Stack 610mm, Reach 440mm, Seat Tube 425mm
Large
Stack 623mm, Reach 460mm, Seat Tube 450mm
The new frame is 400g lighter than the old one (now 2337g frame-only weight in size medium). Much of this weight has been lost on the back end of the bike, reducing unsprung mass. Geometry is updated on the previous SAM, reducing seat tube lengths and making everything a little slacker and longer as you might expect. For the medium sized bike, seat tube is 425mm, reach is 440mm, head angle 64.8 degrees. The new bike also now includes bottle bosses.
Bikes we’ve seen so far are the Sam 9.9 and 8.9. The first part of the number (9.x or 8.x) refers to the frame platform. The 9.x means that it is carbon front and rear. Bikes beginning with 8.x have a carbon front triangle and aluminium rear. The second number refers to the spec level, hence 9.9 is the top spec carbon bike, 8.9 is the top spec carbon /alu bike.
The top-end Focus SAM 9.9 comes with Lyrik, Super Deluxe and Race Face wheels. UK price will be £5499
The SAM 8.9 comes with with Fox Float 36 Rhythm and DPX 2 shock, Eagle GX 12 speed and DT E1900 wheels. It’ll be £3599
We’ve had someone putting some miles on the new SAM and we’ll let you know our first impressions of this floaty new bike later in the week. In the meantime, you can see what Focus says about it here: www.focus-bikes.com
And for those of you who prefer moving pictures
(Can’t see the magic moving people? Click here…)
